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Wolves crumble to defeat in relegation six-pointer at West Ham

Match report from the London Stadium as Wolves are beaten at West Ham.

Wolves took another big step towards relegation as they crumbled to a 4-0 defeat at fellow strugglers West Ham.

Konstantinos Mavropanos headed the Hammers in front late on in the first half, but the game was decided in two second half minutes as Wolves embarrassingly conceded twice.

Taty Castellanos netted them both in quick succession to take control of the game, before Mavropanos added the hosts’ fourth to condemn Wolves to another defeat, as they stare down the barrel of relegation with six games remaining.

Analysis

Rob Edwards made one change to his Wolves side after the draw with Brentford, as Angel Gomes replaced Mateus Mane.

After starting 14 consecutive Premier League matches, it was the first time Mane had been dropped in the top flight since late December.

Sam Johnstone and Matt Doherty missed out through injury, as youngster Tom Edozie was named on the bench.

Nuno Espirito Santo made five changes from West Ham’s FA Cup exit to Leeds and his side were given a huge boost as Crysensio Summerville returned from injury to start the game.

Former Wolves defender Max Kilman was omitted from the squad altogether, while former Wolves attacker Adama Traore was named on the bench.

It was the visitors that created an early chance when Jean-Ricner Bellegarde twisted and turned and eventually put a low cross in towards the far post, where Hugo Bueno was lurking but was beaten to the ball by Kyle Walker-Peters.

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Wolves via Getty Images

Summerville had a good opportunity when the ball broke to him in the box, but he blazed it high over the bar, before Yerson Mosquera headed just wide at the other end.

Shortly after, Mosquera did well to win a free-kick against Summerville and the Wolves man gestured to referee Jarred Gillett to book the West Ham player. Instead, the referee gave Mosquera a yellow card and he will be suspended for the next two games against Leeds and Spurs.

The Hammers came close when the ball fell kindly to Jarrod Bowen from 12 yards, but he fired straight at Jose Sa.

The deadlock was finally broken three minutes from half-time. A corner was initially cleared by Ladislav Krejci but it came back out to Bowen, who was allowed to cross as Jackson Tchatchoua did not close him down, and Mavropanos headed home for the hosts.

Mosquera was initially marking the defender, but moved into a new sector as the cross came in and Krejci was unable to react in time.

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Wolves via Getty Images

That late goal saw Wolves go into the half-time break losing 1-0.

As the second half got under way, both sides had big chances.

A.Gomes hit the post from a Wolves free-kick firstly, before West Ham were given a huge chance when Tchatchoua gave the ball away on halfway and Summerville raced through. He opted to shoot from distance and the backtracking Sa got a hand to it.

Moments later, Bowen cut inside Krejci and onto his left foot before crashing a shot off the post.

Wolves’ match came crumbling down inside two second half minutes, as they conceded twice in quick succession.

First, just five minutes after coming on, Mane gave the ball away in midfield and a one-two between Castellanos and Pablo saw the former slide in to score West Ham’s second.

From kick-off, Joao Gomes gave the ball away and Bowen raced forward, before feeding Castellanos who swept the ball into the far corner.

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Wolves via Getty Images

Wolves made changes but never looked likely to score and it was the hosts who added a fourth. A corner was flicked on and Mavropanos outmuscled Krejci to sweep home.

Wolves were desperately struggling and Adama should have added a fifth when he was played through, but he somehow dragged his shot wide.

The visitors were embarrassed and well beaten after four minutes of additional time, as they sheepishly approached an away end that had largely left the London Stadium.

Key Moments

GOAL 42 Mavropanos heads the hosts in front

GOAL 66 Castellanos slides home a West Ham second

GOAL 68 Castellanos adds his swift second

GOAL 83 Mavropanos nets his second in a dominant West Ham win

Teams

Wolves: Sa, Tchatchoua, Mosquera (Hwang, 71), S.Bueno, Krejci, H.Bueno, Andre, J.Gomes (Edozie, 85), A.Gomes (R.Gomes, 61), Bellegarde (Mane, 61), Armstrong (Arokodare, 71).

Subs not used: Bentley, Toti, Lima, Wolfe.

West Ham: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Disasi, Mavropanos, Diouf, Soucek, Fernandes (Magassa, 85), Summerville (Adama, 78), Bowen, Pablo (Potts, 78), Castellanos (Wilson, 82).

Subs not used: Areola, Todibo, Wan-Bissaka, Scarles, Kante.

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